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Blacklisted subjects?

1

Which are the blacklisted subjects for A levels?

I remember someone had a link somewhere on the cambridge website or something with the list, anyone can tell me that link/tell me the blacklisted subjects?

Thanks!

Reply 1

Spacecam

15

Anything with "Studies" in the name.

Reply 2

vixky!

13

General Studies
Media Studies
Business Studies

Some unis prefer you not to have Critical Thinking, Law, English Language and Dance/Drama too.

Reply 3

kellywood_5

17

Here is the LSE blacklist:

http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/undergraduateProspectus2007/howToApply.htm#generated-subheading9

Most applicants apparently don't take any of those but it's possible to get in with one as long as the other 2 subjects are strong.

These are the subjects Cambridge say provide 'less effective preparation' for their courses:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/requirements/

Like LSE, they recommend you to have at least 2 subjects not on the list.

Reply 4

arsenalfan.

OP

1

Ok thanks for all replies, that was what I was looking for!

Reply 5

lil groovy dude

14

Vicky88

General Studies
Media Studies
Business Studies

Some unis prefer you not to have Critical Thinking, Law, English Language and Dance/Drama too.

Reply 6

Inflation

19

Vicky88

General Studies
Media Studies
Business Studies

Some unis prefer you not to have Critical Thinking, Law, English Language and Dance/Drama too.

You sure about that? I know it's not considered as an A Level by some unis, but not blacklisted, i.e. they discriminate against it.

Reply 7

vixky!

13

Eek sorry, I wasn't paying full attention so all my points got mixed up. :P

I meant to say that Language isn't considered as good at Lit though.

As for Critical Thinking, can't remember which one but it's either Middlesex, Cambridge or LSE that won't count Critical Thinking as one of the A level passes required. Some don't mind.

Reply 8

Vincente

14

Which universities are these

LSE and Cambridge university (although the colleges may vary). But i guess in the next few years other other top universities will begin to mimic this.

Reply 9

Noobish

If you get an A grade in English Language it doesnt mean ur smart because alot of ppl with Ds in Maths and Sciences are scoring way too high in the English subjects (e.g grades B and A).

If you got an A in Maths, then in my books you are smart. I think anybody has the ability to write creatively for 30 minutes in the exam but Maths takes alot more effort.

Reply 10

Vincente

14

If you got an A in Maths, then in my books you are smart. I think anybody has the ability to write creatively for 30 minutes in the exam but Maths takes alot more effort.

This is so narrow minded. Did you really think that humanities students just sit in the exam hall writing creatively for 30 mins. In my history exam i had to sit in an exam hall for 1 hour and 30 mins trying to analysing 700 words of sources and trying to write balanced arguements s well as trying to pick out only little bits of knowledge from the textbook worth of information I had to learn. This is similar for an english lit student. Anyways look at the a grades for the subjects. History and english much lower than maths.

Reply 11

kellywood_5

17

Vincente

This is so narrow minded. Did you really think that humanities students just sit in the exam hall writing creatively for 30 mins. In my history exam i had to sit in an exam hall for 1 hour and 30 mins trying to analysing 700 words of sources and trying to write balanced arguements s well as trying to pick out only little bits of knowledge from the textbook worth of information I had to learn. This is similar for an english lit student. Anyways look at the a grades for the subjects. History and english much lower than maths.

Something like 45% of students get an A in maths- the figure is nowhere near as high for subjects like English and history, partly because the marking is much more subjective and you need to know exactly what the examiners are looking for in your answer. Saying 'anyone can get an A in English but only clever people can get an A in maths', which is what you seemed to be implying, is incredibly naive.

Reply 12

Naranoc

13

^ Ditto. His name speaks for itself.

Reply 13

PeaceSeeker

5

Noobish

If you get an A grade in English Language it doesnt mean ur smart because alot of ppl with Ds in Maths and Sciences are scoring way too high in the English subjects (e.g grades B and A).

If you got an A in Maths, then in my books you are smart. I think anybody has the ability to write creatively for 30 minutes in the exam but Maths takes alot more effort.

I'm inclined to agree with this guy. I'm not saying doing Maths is because you are smart but i do think a C in maths is better than a B in Language vice versa as i do believe it a harder course. Language isn't really difficult as it is mainly a remembering words type courses. But there will be loads saying different things, so i'm jut saying my opinion. However you are more likely to get full marks in cousrses such as maths than a essay-based course. BTW i suck at maths so that another reason why i'm saying it is harder :redface:

Reply 14

Vincente

14

Language isn't really difficult as it is mainly a remembering words type courses

This is a very naive thing to say as well. Have you studied German before it is completely different from just learning another set of words. BTW not much people study languages even when job prospects are good and entry offers are low, WHY? because people find it difficult to learn a new language especially when they reach 16.
But there will be no decisive answer because everyone is good at different things hence the purpose of A levels; to specialise at different things. i have a friend at imperial college who does maths but can't even write a letter to me properly!

Reply 15

PeaceSeeker

5

Vincente

This is a very naive thing to say as well. Have you studied German before it is completely different from just learning another set of words. BTW not much people study languages even when job prospects are good and entry offers are low, WHY? because people find it difficult to learn a new language especially when they reach 16.
But there will be no decisive answer because everyone is good at different things hence the purpose of A levels; to specialise at different things. i have a friend at imperial college who does maths but can't even write a letter to me properly!

I was talking about english language but meh? easy to make mistake. :cool:

Reply 16

kellywood_5

17

PeaceSeeker

BTW i suck at maths so that another reason why i'm saying it is harder :redface:

Precisely. You may respect a C in maths more than a B in English because you're better at English, but equally someone better at maths may respect a C in English more than a B in maths. Everyone has different talents. I know many people who take maths and sciences and would do rubbish at arts subjects because they're incaaple of constructing a decent essay, but equally there are many arts students, myself included, who would struggle with maths and the sciences. It's impossible to say one subject is harder than another except for you personally.

Reply 17

Fuzzy_Hamster

To be fair History and English Lit are main respected subjects..So not all subjects on the hum. side are rubbish.

Reply 18

XxJaninexX

15

Maths and english cannot be compared. Maths is very logical and will support the sciency subjects so all the jobs like medicine and all those very respected jobs. However, English will support the arts subjects which do tend to be look down on with a few exceptions. Be it rightly or wrongly.

Reply 19

Xrypto

6

Of course LSE would want Eco taken at A Level as it is the London School of Eco.....duh! Why won't anyone to listern! All A levels are going to be "hard", and of course some Unis prefer some courses over others for instance for enterance to Oxbridge , its fantasitic that you got three A's at A level but for a History degree they don't care you got your A's in Dance, Home Economics and Gardening, they are not relevent to your chosen course.

Unless someone has got something entriely differnet to say I propose to ask teh Mod's to lock any forecoming furtre discussions on this mattter. THIS IS GETTING TEDIOUS!!!!!

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